Use Dynamic SQL to Improve Query Performance
This article by Jonathan Roberts demonstrates how to use dynamic SQL and overcome its downsides.
Solving a Problem Importing Integers Using Format Files
When using format files to import data into SQL Server, the Integer(INT) data type needs special handling.
PASS Data Architecture VC presents On Beyond Zebra AdventureWorks OR where did I go wrong?
On Thursday February 16th at 12PM noon Central, Steve Simon will discuss “No Matter how well planned and executed, data structures sometime resembles something out of a Dr. Seuss book."
Use Your Tools
It's easy to get stuck in a rut and not learn to use the new features and capabilities of your tools are they evolve. Steve Jones reminds you it's worth a little time investment to learn about your tools.
What's the Point of Using VARCHAR(n) Anymore?
The arrival of the (MAX) data types in SQL Server 2005 were one of the most popular feature for the database developer. At the time, there was a lot of discussion as to whether this freedom from having to specify string length came at a cost. Rob attempts to give a final answer as to any down-side.
A Guide to Installing SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services
This document shows how to install a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services instance.
A Valentine for the Community
This Valentine's Day Steve Jones wants to thank everyone in the community for their efforts.
Buck Woody's Cloud Howlers
We asked Buck Woody to come up with his favourite 'Cloud' Howlers. After 'Howler' monkeys, we are faced with Howler letters. Buck dreams of sending Howler letters to the folks who dreamed up the marketing hype around 'cloud' services, who misunderstand services, who don't prepares applications for distributed environments and so on.
Still Time to Register for SQL Bits X
If you will be in London on Mar 29th, come to the official UK launch of SQL Server 2012 at SQL Bits X. Saturday is sold out, so if you registered and cannot come, please cancel. There are still a few spots for Thur and Fri.
Blogs
Advice I Like: Respect
By Steve Jones
“Don’t aim to have others like you; aim to have them respect you.” –...
Blue Sky Programming – The Optimism Trap
Many years ago, before I joined Oracle, I was working on a major modernisation...
Setting Up a Mac for Data Engineering and AI Work
If you work with data pipelines, SQL, notebooks, or machine learning models, a Mac...
Forums
SQL Art, Part 4: Happy 4th of July — A British DBA's Guide to Celebrating a War We Don't Talk About
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Art, Part 4: Happy...
locking down agent for new user on our dev machine
hi , a new user wants to be able to add sql agent jobs...
SQL Server Enum Implementation: A Single-Row View Strategy for Avoiding Magic Values
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server Enum Implementation: A...
Question of the Day
BIT_COUNT I
In SQL Server 2025, I have a table (dbo.UserPermission) that contains this data:
UserID UserPermissions 15 23 37What is returned when I run this code:
select bit_count(UserPermissions) as PermissionCount from dbo.UserPermission where UserID = 3;See possible answers